UNMC DOC Carnival sends anti-smoking message

Medical students demonstrate the most popular DOC Carnival event — Rush the Smoker to the Doctor.

More than 60 students from UNMC’s Adopt-a-School partners, Fontenelle Elementary and Monroe Middle School, recently learned that anti-smoking education can be fun.

With the help of student athletes from Benson High School and UNMC faculty, medical students and staff, they played games at the annual DOC (Doctors Oughta Care) Sports Carnival. The event is hosted by UNMC family medicine physicians, UNMC medical students and staff dedicated to educating youngsters on why they should never start smoking. The Benson Bunny mascot also attended the event.

Medical students filled a tub of toilet paper trash following the “Bandage the Smoker” game. Left to right: Kristina Garnett, Taryn Lambrecht, Lucille Woodard and Anya Johansen.

Students watched a video and listened to an anti-smoking presentation then played games in the Monroe Middle School gym. Students competed in events for medals and prizes, including: Bop Joe Camel, in which students threw a ball at a Joe Camel poster; Bandage the Smoker, in which students played “doctor” and wrapped a “burned smoker” in toilet paper.

Students also played Tobacco Toss, in which students threw empty cigarette cartons into trash cans; and the most popular event, Rush the Smoker to the Doctor, in which the “smoker” was placed on a gurney and team members raced against the clock around the Benson Bunny, to the end of the gym and back.

“You have to have several events over time like this,” said Paul Paulman, M.D., UNMC family medicine physician, director and emcee of the event. “We hope not to lecture, but to give them a fun anti-tobacco message. If we can convince one out of 60 not to smoke, then it’s well worth the effort.”

Russell Johnson wraps Tim Houston in toilet paper during “Bandage the Smoker” game. Both are eighth-graders at Monroe Middle School.